Apparatus for maintaining an elevator cage in the vertical position

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for holding the cage of an elevator moving on a curved track in a vertical position. The device comprises adjustment means for holding the elevator cage in a vertical position, and an inclination transmitter, which scans the inclination of the elevator cage and controls the adjustment means.

United States Patent 11 1 Hedman et al. 1 Aug. 27, 1974 APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING AN [56] References Cited ELEVATOR CAGEIN THE VERTICAL UNITED STATES PATENTS POSITION 1,148,901 8/1915 lnnes 198/18 Inventors; Jar] Hedman; Tage westerlund, 3,312,307 4/1967 Camp 187/10 both of skenefte?" Swede" FOREIGN PATENTS'OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Linden-Alimak AB, Skelleftea, 214,055 7/1967 Sweden 187/12 Sweden 22 d: F 23 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher I 116 e Assistant Examiner--Jeffrey V. Nase 1 1 pp 335,411 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Po1lack, Philpitt & Vande Sande [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 24, 1972 Sweden 2278/72 [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a device for holding the cage [52] U.S. Cl 187/12, 104/127, 105/149, of an elevator moving on a curved track in a vertical 105/ 164, 187/10 position. The device comprises adjustment means for [51] Int. Cl B66b 9/06 holding the elevator cage in a vertical position, and an [58] Field of Search 187/12, 10, 68, 28; inclination transmitter, which scans the inclination of 214/100, 103, 105, 110; 104/127, 128; the elevator cage and controls the adjustment means.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING AN ELEVATOR CAGE IN THE VERTICAL POSITION Elevators of this kind which, for example, may be elevators climbing on a rack in an elevator shaft with varying inclination in different shaft portions, or climbing on a rack upward along a building with varying inclination, usually are provided with an inclination transmitter in the form of a pendulum, which via switches controls the adjustment means. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the requirement of accurate return of the elevator cage to a vertical position and the requirement of cushioning the pendulum movement cannot adequately be met at the same time. The pendulum mechanism, moreover, requires considerable space.

The aforesaid inconveniencies are eliminated by the present invention which comprises two communicating liquid-filled vessels together with a means responsive to the difference in liquid level in the two vessels. Conventional elevator cages permit the vessels filled with liquid to be arranged a relatively large distance from each other, so that a very small change in inclination gives rise to a change of level in the vessels which is fully sufficient for starting the adjustment means by known level indicators for reestablishing the vertical position of the elevator cage. The vessels require only a minimum of space, and the freedom of choice with respect to their location is great. The desired cushioning of the liquid movement between the vessels is easily obtained by a throttling in the connection between them.

An embodiment of a device according to the invention is described in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an elevator with a cage climbing in a curved elevator shaft with two communicating vessels according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 shows the two vessels with a level indicating means.

The elevator cage 1 which is pivotally mounted on a frame 2 about a horizontal axle 3. The frame 2 runs with wheels 5 along an inclined track 4 and is driven by a drive machinery 6 which, for example, by pinions engages with a rack of the track 4. The drive machinery 6 is connected to the frame 2 via a joint 7. The track is arranged on an inclined surface, for example the wall 8 of a mine-shaft 9.

The inclination of the track in relation to the horizontal plane varies as the frame 2 with the cage 1 moves along the track 4. ln order to maintain the cage 1 always vertical and independent of the shaft inclination, the cage is provided with an adjustment means comprising an electromotor 10, which drives a nut 11 on a screw 12. The screw 12 is hingedly mounted on the frame 2 and by rotation of the nut 11 the elevator cage is moved with its upper portion closer to or farther away from the frame 2.

The adjusting motor 10 is controlled by an arrangement comprising two vessels 13 and 14 filled with liquid and communicating with a line 15. The liquid level 16 in the vessels is scanned preferably by a float 17, which according to FIG. 2 is to be provided only in one of the vessels. For transferring the level indication of the float 17 to the motor 10, the float may be provided, for example, with two permanent magnets 18, which free of contact, each actuate an encased magnet switch 19 and, respectively, 20 known per se, which via electric lines 21 and, respectively, 22 control the motor 10 so as by means of the screw 12 to hold the elevator cage vertical. As soon as the liquid level falls below the level indicated by 23, the switch 19 starts the motor 10 via the line 21 into one direction, and as soon as the level rises above the level indicated by 24, the switch 20 starts the motor 10 via the line 22 into the other direction.

The switches, of course, may also be arranged each in a vessel, if this is deemed suitable. In order to obtain maximum sensitivity of the scanning means, the vessels l3 and 14 preferably are arranged as far from each other as possible in the direction of rotation of the elevator cage about the axle 3.

The liquid in the vessels may be oil. The necessary cushioning of the liquid movement between the vessels 13 and 14 is effected by a preferably adjustable throttling 25 in the line 15.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for maintaining in a vertical position the cage of an elevator moving along a track having a variable inclination comprising:

means for pivotally supporting said cage relative to said track,

adjustment means operatively interconnecting said cage and said track for adjusting the angular position of said cage about its pivot,

two spaced liquid-filled vessels each supported by said cage and interconnected for fluid flow therebetween,

and control means responsive to the level of fluid for controlling said adjustment means to maintain said cage level.

2. The apparatus of claim I which further includes throttling means effective to control the flow of fluid between said two vessels. 

1. Apparatus for maintaining in a vertical position the cage of an elevator moving along a track having a variable inclination comprising: means for pivotally supporting said cage relative to said track, adjustment means operatively interconnecting said cage and said track for adjusting the angular position of said cage about its pivot, two spaced liquid-filled vessels each supported by said cage and interconnected for fluid flow therebetween, and control means responsive to the level of fluid for controlling said adjustment means to maintain said cage level.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes throttling means effective to control the flow of fluid between said two vessels. 